Looks more and more like they're just trying to set themselves up as another 'Alienware' type branding exercise, although with control of the OS and software delivery system, it has the potential to be a lot bigger.

Read on before you get too excited: some prototypes get a Titan, other prototypes get lower-end Nvidia boards. The majority of retail models - i.e. the only ones you're ever likely to see in the flesh, unless you're going to CES next year - will likely use on-board graphics or mini-PCIe laptop-style GPUs.

idk why people freak about the titan.... it isnt really all that great when you consider what you have to pay for it. sure if i was in the giveaway i'd hope for the titan, but if i have to actually pay for it i'm hoping for a 290/x or 780/ti

what on earth is the point in sending out such high spec prototypes in the first place? This is Valve, I fail to see what they could learn from people using it, that they don't know already via their Steam hardware surveys.

Click to expand...

Who knows. Newell already said that Steam Boxes will come in three distinct flavours: Good, Better and Best. From the sound of it, Valve's prototypes are Best while the retail models from licensed OEMs will be Good. That doesn't mean that one or more OEM won't release a Best similar to Valve's prototypes, mind - nor that Valve itself won't enter the hardware market fully and release an 'official' Steam Machine with high-end hardware like its prototypes. After all, it seems odd to spend so much effort engineering a fully-functional prototype then just leave production up to third parties...

Surely valve want to put their best foot forward when making their first revelation of the steambox. Lets not forget at the moment valves primary customers are pc gamers who likely drool over hardware specs like the prototype shown.

Also valve are a software company first and foremost. Their forray into hardware is a necessity however as they they need to get the ball rolling on good input methods for couch gaming and the steamboxes themselves. Going by newells move towards linux he's clearly not one to wait around and let other companies come up with the solutions he needs.

I would imagine that if the steam boxes become well established, valve will take a step back from the hardware and let their partners continue down that road. Perhaps producing only a premium model themselves.

Hmm, not all titans eh? Well if they can put together a reasonable spec quiet box or a monster spec beast box then heavily discount/subsidise it (a la x-box/playstation) I would actually be interested either way.

I would imagine that if the steam boxes become well established, valve will take a step back from the hardware and let their partners continue down that road. Perhaps producing only a premium model themselves.

Click to expand...

I cant see them wanting to get into producing their own box, they say why they made the 300 prototypes in the Verge article linked by Gareth.

While the company's Xbox-sized gaming PC is only a model to inspire hardware partners

Which begs the question..what on earth is the point in sending out such high spec prototypes in the first place?

This is Valve, I fail to see what they could learn from people using it, that they don't know already via their Steam hardware surveys.

Click to expand...

Not sure if this is tongue in cheek sarcasm or serious.

The difference between the Steam hardware survey data, which is a list of what people are using and the prototyping of the inter-operability of a new hardware (and software) is like the difference between those who know what they are talking about and those who spout off in online forums.

The difference between the Steam hardware survey data, which is a list of what people are using and the prototyping of the inter-operability of a new hardware (and software) is like the difference between those who know what they are talking about and those who spout off in online forums.

Yours in Elite Corrective Plasma,
Star*Dagger

Click to expand...

Bingo.

PS: I've missed your "yours in <insert new phrase here> plasma" sign-offs lately, good to see them back